Coffee percolator



y 1942- B. J. STEINMETZ 1 2,283,957

COFFEE PERCOLATOR Filed April 1, 1940 gvwe/wtow 67 ,BJSZinmeii PatentedMay 26, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT' OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in coifee percolators.

The invention aims to provide a percolator with means whereby theintensity of the brew may be controlled to result in a weak, medium orstrong beverage.

The invention further aims to provide a per-' I colator with means forautomatically controlling the intensity of the brew during thepercolating operation.

The invention further aims to provide a percolator with means forshutting off the feed of the hot fluid to the coffee during thepercolating operation to thereby control the intensity of the brew. I

The invention further aims to provide a percolator for brewing a coffeebeverage of the desired intensity.

The invention further aims to provide a coffee percolator includingadjustable means for automatically cutting ofi the percolatingoperation.

, The invention further aims to provide a percolator for the purpose setforth which is .simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable, compact, thoroughly eflicient in the use intended thereby,readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear,the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown embodiments ofthe invention, butit is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a percolator in accordance withthis invention,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 Figure 1, Figure 3 is a fragmentaryview in elevation and vertical section of a modified form of percolatorin accordance with this invention,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of another mo'dified form ofpercolator in accordance with this invention,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation and vertical section ofstill another modified form of percolator in accordance with thisinvention, and

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 Figure 5.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the open lid for the container 8 isdesignated 9 and it includes a hollow transparent sight member 10.

The latter is closed at its top and open at its bottom. The annular opentop holder for the coffee to be brewed is designated H and includes anannular body l2 provided witha screen-like 1 bottom l3 having an axialopening M to the wall of which is secured the lower end of a ver-.

tically disposed tube l5 corresponding in its length to the height ofbody [2. The container 8, lid

, 9, member Ill and holder II are of known form.

top container, receptacle, pot or hollow body of a percolator 1 isindicated at 8. The removable In percolators including the elementsaforesaid there is correlatedwith such elements a means for conductinghot Water and hot beverage to percolate through the cofiee in theholder. The

said means consists of a vertical pipe which supports the holder and isconnected at its lower end to the apex of and opens into a hollowconoidalshaped member, forming a receiver for hot water and hot beverageseated on the bottom of the container. The said member is formed withcombined hot water and hot'beverage intake openings. The said means isemployed in the form of percolator as shown by Figures 1 and 2, but itdoes not conduct the hot water and hot beverage to a pointforpercolating through the coifee in the holder, although it doessupport the holder, and the openings in its conoidal shaped member areemployed for the intake of hot water and hot beverage therein forentering a conducting element to be referred to. The said means is alsoemployed for a function which it does not now form and such functionwill be referred to. The said means, as employed in a percolator inaccordance with this invention, is slightly changed and such change willbe referred to. The said means is generally indicated at l6 and includestends up through tube I5 of the holder H and the latter is supported onthe boss l8. The fore going is of known arrangement. The changein themeans I6 resides in'providing the pipe I! lengthwise thereof anddirectly below the boss I8 with a slot 2|.

The percolator, in accordance with this rinven-- tion and as shown byFigures 1 and 2 includes a vertically disposed hot water or hot beverageconducting pipe or element 23'for feeding hot water and hot beverage tobe percolated to the coifee in the holder II. The pipe 23 is normallyopen at both ends, is arranged in the pipe ll,

has a close sliding fit with the latter and has its lower end normallyelevated above the bottom 24 of the container 8. The normal position ofpipe 23 is with its lower end depending from pipe |1 into the upperportion .of member IQ for the intake of hot water or hot beverage andwith its upper end flush with the upper end of pipe I1.

The pipe 23, intermediate its ends has fixedly se- I cured thereto alaterally disposed studor pin 25, which extends through and projectsfrom the slot 2| in pipe |1. When pipe 23 is in its normal position thestud 25 is disposed in proximity to nulus being free of beverage 'orwater, and with the upper end of the inner side 30 of the annulus 21bearing against the stud 25 thereby maintaining or sustaining the pipe23 in its normal elevated position. When percolating, a portion of thebeverage is employed for lowering the annulus 21' from its engaged orsustaining position with the stud 25 to permit of the pipe 23 movingdownwardly by gravity to have its' lower end closed by bottom 24 ofcontainer 8 for the purpose of discontinuing'the percolating operation.

the boss l4 and arranged at the upper portion of the slot 2|. The pipe23 is releasably sustained in its normal position aforesaid by a floatcontrolled means 26, to bereferred to, for controlling the intensity ofthe brew. When the pipe 23 is released from its sustained normalposition it drops by gravity until its lower end abuts-and is closed bythe bottom 24 of container 8 whereby the intake oflhot water or hotbeverage to' pipe 23 is: shut off. The said bottom24'functions as g ahot water cut-oil valve for pipe 23, The correlation of the stud 25 withthe side Walls of the slot 2|. prevents the revolving of, pipe 23relative topipe H. The correlation of' the stud 25 with the top wall ofslot 2|, when pipe 23' is set in normal'position provides for the upperends of pipes H, 23 aligning.

That portion of the pipe l1 of. the. means. lb

diiti'onsthe intensity of: the brewmay be readily v controlled by thedimensions of the beverage. in takes, therefor by the simultaneouslyadjusting below the upper end. of slot "2.| provides a guide for thefloat controlled sustaining means26 for the pipe. 23. The means 26includes a hollow buoyant annulus '2'1 constituting. a sustainingmember. Thev annulus 2 1: is formed of a top 28, a bottom 29,.an'innertubularside 3|l'which encompasses and is; slidable. relative to pipe l1,and an outer side v31L Therwinner side '30. extends above the top 28'and. it is formed at its upper end. with an outwardly direct'ed annularflange 32 which overlaps inv spaced relation the inner. marginal portionof the'-upper"face of said-top 28. The latterisiformed with apair ofdiametri- V cally opposed oppositely extending sector-shaped openings33, 34'. The upper edge of top 28 bordering the opening 34* is formed.with a seriesof parallel graduations 35 for a purpose tobe referred to.Revoluble about the upper: end oi. the:

inner side 3B of the annulus" 215. and confined on the top 28Lby thefiange32 isa circular disc-36 formed with a pair-of diametricallyopposed oppositely extending sector-like wings 31, 38' for. extension.across theputer portion of openings 33,34 respectively. The disc362..in. connectionwith the wings 31, 38; constitute a closure foradjustable closing-thecopenings 33,34 andalso a.

controller for the. sustaining means 26. The

disc 36 permanently closes the inner. portion of. said openings. Theouter portions of. said openings' constitute beverage: intakes for theannulus. 2.1 and the. wings 31;.38are for simultaneously" varying thedimensions of the. beverage intakesf The disc 363 and wings 31,38'arerbodily revoluble.

The disc 36 hasa close sliding-fit with flange32 and the upperiface oftop 28.: Thezwing 31, 38

have: a. close. contactrwithz' the: upper face 'oiv top.

28. The edge39 of the f'wing 38 .c0rrelates. with the graduations 35 fordetermining. the? adjust-.

ment of the wings to obtain the: desired dimensions, of the beverageintakes for the annulus 21.

The. graduations 35 may have correlated there-:

with suitable indicia,,not shown.

. The water line iszindicated.

t 40 and the nor-. malposition'of the annulus. 21, with respect to.

the waterline, is as' shown: by Figure. 1, the sin-.75:

During percolating, a portion of the beverage will enter into theannulus 21 through the beverage intakes for the latter and when theweight of that portion of beverage received by the annulus; overcomesthe buoyant characteristic of the latter, the annulus will movedownwardly by gravity about thepipe l1 and the aforesaid operation ofthe pipe 23 will be had to discontinue the'percolating operation. Whenthe dimensions of' the beverage intakes for the annulus 21 are small,the gravity lowering of the annulus will be delayed longer than when?the dimensions of said intakes'are large, as it will take: longer forthe annulus to receive an amount of. beverage to overcome its buoyancythanwhen the' dimensions of said. intakes are large; under suchzconofthe dimensions ofthe beverage intakes for the amiuls a resulting weak,medium and strong coffee beverageimay be had;

With reference-to the form 41 of the invention as shown by Figure 3, themeans l6 will beemployed without the'pipe 7 l1 thereof being slottedand: the pipe or element 23- and the means 26 omitted. InFigure 3 thepipe 42 corresponds in all details to pipe I-1 when'thetlatter is notslotted.

The pipe 42 functions to conduct the hot water and hot. beverage to? apoint for percolating through the cofiee-intne holder. Inxform'4 thedischarge of hot water orhot beverage to discontinue percolation iscut-off at the upperend of pipe 42 and not atits lower end by the bottomof container 8, and for the purpose'ofclosing said upper end anautomatically operable closing means 43 isprovided for. the upper end ofpipe 42; The means'43 includes a valve 44' normally incliningtcwards andarranged below the upper end'of' pipe 42, an inwardly directed curvedstem 45 connected atone end to and extended from one. side; of the-valve44,. ,acounterweight 4B for and integral'with stem45 intermediate theends of the latter, and'a pivotedshifter 41 for. moving valve 44 to seaton; the upper open end of pipe42 to close said upper end. The shifter 41includes a shank 48 which is connected;at its'inner. end

to oneend ofa hollow receiver 49 in whichis to V be collected aporti-onof the-hot beverage. The.

the means 43 is as shown by Figure 3 and in such position the-receiver4S-is disposedhorizontally and spaced above and over-theholder forthecoflee.

Duringv percolation. when the hotv beverage isprojecting from the upperend of pipe 42; it will'not onlyfall into the cofiee, but a part thereofwill enter the receiver through the intake I. When the weight of the hotbeverage within the receiver overcomes the counterweight 46 for thevalve, the receiver will swing downwardly on its pivot to thereby shiftthe valve to seat on the upper end With reference to the form 53 of theinvention, as shown by Figure 4, it will correspond to the form shown byFigures 1 and 2 with the exception that the pipe 5 3' of the form 53which corresponds to the pipe I! is not slotted, that the pipe 55 of theform 53 which corresponds to the pipe 23 is not provided intermediateits ends with a stud, that the pipe 55 normally extends above the pipe54 and that the sustaining means 26 shown by Figures 1 and 2 is omitted,

The pipe 55 is normally sustained in an elevated position and inextended relation with respect to the upper end of pipe 54 by anautomatically operable sustaining means 56, which correlates with thetop edge of pipe 56. 'The means 56 includes a depending sustaining lever5'! of triangular contour flxed at its apex to the outer end of theshank 58 of a shifter 56 for lever 51. The outer end of the shank 58 ispivotally connected to and disposed exteriorly of pipe 55. as at 59. Theshifter 59 corresponds in form and functions in the same manner as theshifter 41. The normal position of the lever 57 is in mounted relationon the top edge of pipe 54 and releasably retains the pipe 55 in itsextended position as shown by Figure 4. When the weight of the quantityof hot beverage collected in the shifter 59 lowers the latter, the lever5! is swung in a direction to clear the top edge of pipe 56 whereby pipe55 will lower by gravity to have its lower end closed by the bottom ofthe container. Otherwise than that as stated form 53 will be the same asthe form shown by Figures 1 and 2.

The form 66 of the invention, as that shown by Figures 5 and 6, willcorrespond to the form shown by Figures 1 and 2 with this exception thatthe sustaining means 26 and the pipe 23 are omitted. In Figures 5 and 6a pipe is indicated at 6i, which corresponds to the pipe ll, but it isnot provided with a slot 2| as is pipe ii. The pipe 6| functions toconduct hot water and hot beverage for percolation through the coffee inthe holder 62. The latter corresponds in form to the holder H. The pipe6| below and in proximity to its peripherial boss 63 has pivotallymounted therein and diametrically thereof a shaft 64 carrying a valve 65arranged within the,

pipe 6|. The valve 65 is normally opened and, when moved from normal,acts to close the pipe 6| for the purpose of discontinuing thepercolating operation. The shaft 64 is shifted in a direction to movethe valve 65 to close the pipe 6! by a shifter 66 of the sameconstruction as and functioning and operated in the same manner as theshifters 61, 49. The shifter 66 includes a shank 61 fixed at its outerend to one end of the shaft 64. The latter at its other end has acounterbalance 68.

Before the start of a percolating operation with respect to any one ofthe forms of percolators as shown the annulus 21 and shifters 41, 56 and66 are entirely emptied of water or beverage.

What I claim is:

1. In a percolator, a holder for the material through which a fluid isadapted to percolate, means disposed axially of said holder for directing the fluid onto the material, an initially bouyant and subsequentlygravity lowering fluid receiving structure of container-like formdisposed in the downwardpath of the fluid for receiving a predeterminedportion of" the latter to lower it, and means operatively connectingsaid structure and said' directing means for effecting closingofsaid"directingIneans'upon lowering of said structurethereby'discontinuing the percolating operation.-

2.1a a percolator, a holder for the material through which a fluid isadapted topercolate,

n'iea-nsdisposed'axi'ally of said holderfor direct-- ing the fluid ontothe material, an initially buoyant andsubsequently gravity loweringfluid receiving structure of container-like form disposed in thedownward path of the fluid for receiving a predetermined portion of thelatter to lower it,-means operatively connecting said structure and saiddirecting means for effecting closing of said directing means uponlowering of said structure thereby discontinuing the'percolatingoperation, said structure having its top formed with fluid intakes, andmeans for varying the dimensions of said intakes for controlling theperiod of the closing of said directing means.

3. In a percolator, a receptacle adapted to contain a fluid, a holderwithin the receptacle for the material through which the fluid isadapted to percolate, a pipe disposed axially of the holder andincluding means for supporting the latter, said pipe being formed with alengthwise slot below and in proximity to said means and with aconoidal-shaped apertured fluid intake at its lower end seated on thebottom of the receptacle, a vertically disposed fluid directing means insaid pipe formed with a lateral lug extending through said slot, and aninitially buoyant and subsequently gravity lowering fluid receivingstructure of container-like form disposed in the downward path of thefluid for receiving a predeter mined portion of the latter, saidstructure en-' compassing said pipe and coacting with said lug openposition for the passage of fluid there through and said structure uponreceiving a predetermined portion of the fluid on the downward flow ofthe latter moving downwardly by gravity whereby said fluid directingmeans automatically shifts to closed position thereby discontinuing thepercolating operation.

4. In a percolator, a holder for the material through which a fluidpercolates, means for directing fluid onto the material, an adjustablemeans controlled by the fluid for controlling the extent of thepercolating operation to vary the intensity of the brew, said meansincluding a structure pivoted to said directing means and including anormally buoyant gravity movable part and a valve part acting to closesaid directing means when said other part is lowered, said adjustablemeansbeing arranged in the downward path of the fluid.

5. In a percolator, a holder for the material through which a fluidpercolates, a pipe for directing fluid onto the material, means carriedby the pipe and removably engaging with the holder for releasablymaintaining said pipe in open position, and an initially buoyantsubsequently gravity lowering fluid receiving structure ward path of thefluid for receiving a predetermined portion of the latter to lower it,said structure being connected to said means and when buoyantmaintaining said means in engagement withthe holder to open the pipe andwhen lowered shifting said means clear of the holder to provide for theclosing of the pipe.

6. In a beverage brewing apparatus of the percolator type through whicha fluid is adapted to percolate, means for circulatively directing thefluid onto the material, an initially buoyant and subsequently gravitylowerable fluid receiving container- -like structure disposed in thepath of the fluid as it leaves the material holder, for receiving apredetermined portion of the fluid and caused by the fluid receivedtherein to gradually lose buoyancy and assume a lowered position, and

said structure and said directing means operatively related to effect adiscontinuance of the percolating operation upon the lowering of saidstructure to a predetermined point.

7. In a beverage brewing apparatus of the type including a fluidreceiving and containing cham,

her, a holder for the material through whichv the fluid percolates, anda transfer means for effect ing circulation of the fluid from thechamber andthrough the holder; an initially buoyant and subsequentlygravity lowering structure for receiving a predetermined amount of thefluid in the course of circulation and adapted to shut off the flow'offluid through the material holder at a predetermined time, governed bythe loss of buoyancy of said, structure.

8. In a percolator, a brew material holder, a brew receiving andcontaining chamber, a transfer means for circulating the brew throughsaid holder from and back into said chamber, and a BENJAIVHN J.S'I'EINMETZ.

